Business attire

I am lucky enough to have a personal stylist (luv you googie) and you may think you know when I haven’t consulted her when we next meet in the street, the office, the networking event, etc.  But as with all aspects of business (and in your personal life) judging a book by its cover will cost you.  In my line of work, appropriate business attire changes every half day.  Why, because I normally visit a different client every half day.  I will always try to find a middle ground between the expectations of the two, but normally it is a matter of meeting the requirements of one and then either dressing up or down for the next.

If I need to have specific work attire for one, like my two day visit to an iron foundry this week – jeans, long sleeves, boots, etc, then it is a little tough to dress up for the next client.  Thankfully I don’t have to but if I did, just a change of shoes and a sport jacket will normally raise the tone for an office visit.

So one rule of thumb I have for going to a client the first time is to dress up to what your expectations might be and modify accordingly.  This means you can dump a jacket, remove a tie, roll up sleeves as needed.  Of course sales meetings and first time sales meetings should command the full corporate front but I have found today, that a jacket only is becoming the norm and does not impinge on the sale.

And then of course there is casual Fridays or even casual always clients.  If you are unsure, go with my rule above.  There is nothing quite so alarming when you turn up in jeans and a tee to only find out that they do it once a month, not once a week.  My tip here.  Phone the day before and find out.

So, for my last bit on attire, here is just a little protocol I use when attending conferences, workshops, presentations that last more than one day.  On all but the last day, dress down, dress very casual ensuring you are still clean and well presented.  Then on the last day power up and get as corporate and as in-your-face with business style as you can get.  If anyone asks (and they normally do), tell them you are off to a big and important meeting.  Their last impression of you is the suit, the importance and the ‘I should do business with him’ thinking as you head off into the sunset.  And you know, once you have taken the time to dress for it, you may as well set up that very important meeting and go and close that great big deal.